THY trying to break into global airline seat market

The head of Turkey's national carrier Turkish Airlines (THY), İlker Aycı, has said the company was producing its own airline seats for its passenger planes, adding that the aim was eventually to break into the almost impenetrable global airline seat market.

THY Executive Board Chairman Aycı, who was present during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's tour of Pakistan and Uzbekistan, told journalists accompanying the president that entering the airline seat market was an opportunity to expand the company's economic reach.

When asked about his presence next to President Erdoğan and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during an official gathering, Aycı said the THY had entered a tender to produce economy class seats for Pakistan International Airlines.

"TSI Aviation Seats, a partnership of the THY and Assan Hanil, a subsidiary of Kibar Holding, has bid to produce economy class seats for the Pakistan International Airline's Boeing 777-300ER fleet," Aycı said, as he explained he was invited by Erdoğan to explain what the company had to offer.

While the size of the tender is relatively small at $15-20 million, Aycı said he saw it as an opportunity to enter the aviation seat market that is dominated by a few giant companies.

"We have the capability to produce lighter and more functional seats than the others at two-thirds the price. If we win the Pakistan International Airlines tender, it will give us a crucial reference to make a move to enter the global market," Aycı said.

Aycı also said he took advantage of speaking to Sharif face-to-face to raise his proposal for the two national carriers launching a joint airline for domestic flights in Pakistan. Sharif told Aycı to send him his proposal in written form, promising to forward it to the Pakistan International Airlines executive board for assessment.

"Afterwards, both sides can sit and discuss it in detail," Sharif told Aycı.

Erdoğan's trip to Pakistan also saw accompanying businessmen consulting with their Pakistani counterparts to reach the yearly $1 billion bilateral trade target set by the president.